Former F-16 pilot here. With 3 external tanks for extra fuel the F-16 could easily launch from Italy, go to Northern Libya, do what it needed to do and return to Italy with NO tanker needed.
Thank you for your service, and thank you for the information.
Back when pterodactyls ruled the world, we had Pink Lady, a QRCF (Quick Reaction Conventional Force) on alert in Aviano. We could make Benghazi and make a mess there, we would need a tanker to come home, but we had one of those on Alert, too. Perhaps the Day of the Rhino is over, perhaps the Day of the Warrior is done. Certainly, the Day of the Risk Averse Political Four Star Maggot is upon us. We put our noses, complete with guns, wherever we want. Frog ground fire. But, then we weren’t all that smart. F-4D 1973-1977 RAF Bentwaters, then on to other fine mounts.